Suction apparatus



25, 1948. J. A. BETTS SUCTION APPARATUS I Filed Nov. a, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2, 1948. J. A. BETTS 2,442,282

SUCTION APPARATUS 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 25, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION APPARATUS James A. Betts, Easton, Pa.

Application November 8, 1946, Serial No. 708,749

, 14 Claims.

My invention relates to suction evacuators and is primarily adapted to apparatus intended for irrigating or treating the human body.

I have found that common disadvantages of prior devices of this class reside in the use of complicated valve mechanism and in a tendency of the suction hose to rupture due to the continued reversals of the bottles in the same direction.

One object of my invention therefore is to provide an improved tiltable support for a pair of inverted liquid suction bottles.

A further object of my invention is to provide a suction bottle assembly having a tiltable frame alternately reversible 180 in opposite directions but immovable through an arc of more than 180 for any one reversal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly wherein, regardless of reversal, the jars are at all times suspended in the same direction.

A still further object is to provide a suction connection and seal for the suction bottles which may be readily manipulated for connecting and disconnecting the bottles in and from the suction system and which entirely lacks the several disadvantageous features of the conventional valve.

A still further object is to provide a novel toggle action gravity seal for the aforesaid connection.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the suction evacuation apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of a portion of the upper bottle in Fig. 1 and the adjacent framework;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the hose connections at one of the catch bottles;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section-a1 detail of a part of the structure of Fig. 2 showing the toggle sealing connection between the suction bottle and the suction line;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail similar to Fig. 4 except that the toggle action of the sealing structure of Fig. 4 is modified to show a gravity type sealing connection; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the terminus of a suction tube inside a suction bottle.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the entire suction apparatus is mounted in a portable assembly comprising base member ID mounted on casters H and having upright posts 12 and I3 welded thereto. Brackets M are welded to posts i2 and I3 and serve as receptacles to hold catch bottles l5 and it, either while in use or for storage. Near the upper ends of supports l2 and I3 hollow bosses H and H are located for mounting the supporting cradle of the suction mechanism;

Referring now to Fig. 2, the cradle pivoting assembly consists of lever l8 bent at right angles and extending through bosses I! and riveted to sleeve [9 by rivets 20. Secured to the other end of sleeve It is pipe 2| which extends through bosses I1 and has a suitable connection 22 for rubber tubing 23. Cradle frame members 24 and 25 are adapted to pivot on lever i8 and pipe 2| respectively by means of elongated slots 26 and 27 in the frame members. When lever i8 is in the upright position it is locked by means of, a suitable notch in plate 28. This locking action imposes a lateral thrust on sleeve 19 through the shank of lever 18 which thrust compresses member 24 between inner boss I! and sleeve [9 to secure it firmly in place. It will also be apparent that the force required to engage and disengage lever I8 from locking plate 28 will be dependent upon the clearance between boss l1, frame 26 and sleeve l9. '1

Located centrally of sleeve I9 and substantially in line with lever I8 is a short length of pipe or heavy tubing 29 which has a sealing collar 30 attached at its outer end. Tube or nipple 29 may be threaded or brazed to sleeve 19 which is suitably drilled to provide internal connection between nipple 29, pipe 2| and rubber tubing 23 as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

Frame members 24 and 25 extend to a length suitable for positioning gallon glass bottles 3! and 3| in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. Straps 32 and 32' are clamped near the bottom of each bottle by means of clamps 33 and 33, and these straps 32 and 32 are pivotally attached to the respective ends of frame members 24 and 25 by means of riveted pins 34 and 34'. Semicircular brackets 35 and 3-5 help to position the bottles in the substantially vertical operative positions and function also in connection with the toggle sealing means for the bottles hereinafter described.

Each bottle 3| and 3 I is thus securely clamped at the bottom and is held in inverted position at all times in the cradle. Each bottle has a permanently positioned rubber stopper 36 (Fig. 2)

Suction tubes 31 and 31' extend ins d bottles 3| and 3| to abut the bottom (or top in the inverted position) of the bottles in order to prevent creeping of the tubes in stoppers 36 and 36. Tubes 31 and 31' are sealed at their upper ends and have small orifices 40 (Fig. 6) drilled in the side wall of the tube just below the termini thereof, This construction permits the free passage of air or gas and at the same time prevents liquid from flowing from a bottle shoul'dl it be tilted accidentally from a vertical position. Tubes 3T and 3'! also protrude slightly beyond the outer. faces of stoppers 36 and 36' in order to facilitate connection with nipple 29. Rubber tube 39? connects liquid tubes 38 and 38 with each other and. provides a liquid connection between the bottles.

Rubber tube 23 is attached to. glass tube 41 mounted in stopper 42 of catch bottle I5. Stopper 42 also contains a longer piece of glasstubing 43 to which rubber tube 44 is attached.

Inoperation a liquid;-usually water; in upper bottle 31 '(the cradle being: in the p'osition shownin Fig. 2)? passes through tube iifl intobottle 31 by gravity. Bottle Si" isvented by means of tube 31 which is open' to atmospheric pressure. Thisflfow creates a' partial vacuum in bottle 31' which: i's-in turn transmitted through nipple 29, plp'e 2|, and rubber tube 23: to jar 52 In. accordance with conventional practica tube 43 is connected by way" of rubber tube 4% to the" stomach or other tube or devicethat may be utilized: to: meet the immediate requirement. Matter di'aW-H through: tube M will collect in bottle: lf5iuntil the' lowerend fi of pipe 4% becomes submergedi. at; whichtime:- now in hose- M will be automatically terminated; thereb precluding passageof foreignimattenintoihosen.

Atter' liquid has drained from bottle It'l into bottle: 31';- continued suction is quickly obtained by' pinching hose 39 disengaging the: handle it: from: the notch. in late 28, and turning: it in counterclockwise direction: as viewed iii-Fig, 1. This causes thebottle $1 to: pivot slightly-on pins 3t and permitsframe members: 2m and? 25 to move downward so that'the upper ends'of slots: 26 and- 21 may rest on the shank of bar l8 and. pipe 2l'. The: entire cradle is their pivoted! to reverse the positionsofl bottles- 3t and -31". As the bottle it approachesthe'topahandle or is turned in' a clockwise direction to the" opposite side of plate 28 and the collar 30'engagedW-ith the end. of' tube 31' as shown: im Fig. Handlel8 is then turned back im a counterclockwise. directionuntil en'- gaged by plate 28. Suction? inline-26* new continues as before;

Iizwllh be apparentithat catcn bottles l4 and I! may be alternatedifrom' a; stored to operative positiom. either! by exchanging the? bottles:- or by shifting". stopper: 42 while hoses as and 44* are pinched! to retain; the vacuum in; the upper bottle:

important featureon my invention resides in; the means by whichan effective sealis made betweentlre suction bottle and nipple: 29:. Re toning to Fig; 4', this sealing means" utilizes. the weight of: the bottles: and cradle, as well: asa toggle action involving pivots 3 8;. sleeve I9 and nipple 29, the slots 26 and 27 and.also'the straps 35= and. 351; As engagement is" made between the nipple: 29 and stopper 38 (in Fig.- 5) continue'd' turning of-' handle I8 has the efie'ct of raising the entire credit; with the bottles so that thelr'weigntiiscamedisolely'by eollar 302- Howl8 becomes locked in plate 28, further turning has the efiect of compressing rubber stopper 36 and maximum compression will of course take place in the dead center position, whereas a slight additional turning causes bottle 3| to pivot until it strikes limit strap 35 (Fig. 4). Considerable pressure is thus exerted against the bottoms of slots 26 and 21, collar 30, stopper 36 and pivots 34, insuring a tight, non-leakable seal between tubal! andpipe Z9? If the length of slots 26' and 2! is such as to afford an adequate amount of force, the plate 28 may be eliminated, since the locking action obtained by forcing nipple 29 past dead center to the limit determined by the straps 35 and 35' should beentirely effective to hold the elements in position.

Fig. 5 in addition to illustrating the method by which pipe 29 is positioned to engage stopper 38 also shows in phantom a sealing action obtained'by gravity alone. This result isachieved merely by providing longer slots" 26- and- 2-1 so that when nipple' 29' isin the vertical position" as shownr'in brokem lines in- Fig. 5,. no contact is madebetween thebottoms of theslots: 2i: and: 2 1 and the=rod l8 andzpipe- 21-. In: this Way the: entire: cradle issupported by nipple 29 and collar 39'; Theweight on the liquid; bottlesandframes is sufficient to provide elfective sealing; With this form, howeven. it is highly desirable that alocking device such as plate- 28 be in cluded in order to prevent accidental disengagement It will be apparent that: ahighly efflcient seal is obtained-I either by means of gravity alone (Fig. 5) or by' means of gravity inaddition to the compressive force exerted by; a toggleaction (Fig.4);

Stop 48: ('seeFig. L): prevents-the cradlefrom turning through anarc of more: than and it will be noted that this stop pivots freely in post l2 andz'is' also oflset to accommodate the width ofi firame member 21.; This featurein sures vertical: positioning: of. frame members 24- and; 25 regardless: of which: bottle is in: themppermost position, SlIlGE'UhEStOlTFiSi tree to-pivot when engaged by either endi of frame member 21-. Stop 46 also cooperates to maintain the sealing action by preventing the cradle from further turning'whenzin the locked position.

While". certain novel. features on the invention are disclosedi herein with-considerable detaik with respect to" certain: particular forms of the invention it is: not. desired tobe limited: to? such details since many changes and modifications may well bev made without departurearfrom. the spirit of theinventibm in its broadest. aspect;

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1;.A gravity suctionv apparatus comprising a base, a pair of uprlght posts securedito'thez base; a: hollow rotatable cross member mounted? on said. posts, a reversible cradle having slots adapted 'to engage said rotatable member; apair of necked bottles carried by the cradle, means for" pivotally suspending said bottles a. constantly inverted? position; from said cradle; a suction tube positioned in each bottle neck and extending to the opposite end? of thebottl'e, a liquid: tube positioned in each bottleneclc, means for positioning said suction and liquid tubes"- in the bottle necks, means for connecting'tlireiliqui'd tubes of'each-bottle toeachother, a: suction hose connected to: one end of the rotatable cross member, and means for selectively connecting one of said) suction tubes to; the hollow'member upon rotation of the cradle to an upright position.

2. A gravity suction apparatus comprising a base, a pair of upright posts secured to the base, a hollow rotatable cross member mounted on said posts, a reversible cradle having slots adapted to engage said rotatable member, a pair of necked bottles carried by the cradle, means for pivotally suspending said bottles in a constantly inverted position from said cradle, a suction tube positioned in each bottle neck and extending to the opposite end of the bottle, a liquid tube positioned in each bottle neck, means for positioning said suction and liquid tubes in the bottle necks, means for connecting the liquid tubes of each bottle to each other, a suction hose connected to one end of the rotatable cross member, means for selectively connecting one of said suction tubes to the hollow member upon rotation of the cradle to an upright position, and locking means for said rotatable member.

3. A toggle sealing connection for tiltable suction apparatus comprising a cradle having a pair of slotted frame members, a hollow suction chamber pivoted to said cradle, the chamber having an orifice, means for limitng the pivotal motion of said chamber with respect to the cradle, a rotatable hollow member extending through the slotted frame members, means for rotating said hollow member with respect to said frame members, and a nipple carried by the rotatable member adapted to engage the orifice when the said chamber occupies a position wherein said orifice lies between and substantially in alignment with the said rotatable member and the pivotal axis of the chamber.

4. A toggle sealing connection for tiltable suction apparatus comprisin a cradle having a pair of slotted frame members, a hollow suction chamber pivoted to said cradle, said chamber having an orifice, means for limiting the pivotal motion of said chamber with respect to the cradle, a rota-table hollow member extending through the slotted frame members, means for rotating said h'ollow member with respect to said frame mem bers, and a nipple carried by the rotatable member adapted to engage the orifice when the said chamber occupies a position wherein said orifice lies between and substantiallyin alignment with the said rotatable member and the pivot-a1 axis of the chamber, the length of said nipple being such that upon continued turning of the rotatable member a compressive force is exerted to seal the connection between the nipple and the orifice.

5. A toggle sealing connection for tiltable suction apparatus comprising a cradle having a pair of slotted frame members, a hollow suction chamber pivoted at each end of said cradle and adapted for alternate liquid flow to and from each chamber upon tilting the cradle so as to bring the chambers respectively into upper and lower positions, means for liquid connection between the ch'ambers, means for ventin the chambers, including a vent orifice, a rotatable hollow member extending though the slotted frame members, means for rotating said hollow member with respect to said frame members, and a nipple carried by the rotatable member adapted alternately to engage the chambers selectively at the vent orifice when the chamber occupies the said upper position.

6. A toggle sealing connection for tiltable suction apparatus comprising a cradle having a pair of slotted frame members, a hollow suction chamber pivoted at each end of said cradle and adapted for alternate liquid flow to and from each chamber upon tilting the cradle, means for liquid connection between the chambers, means for venting the chambers, including a vent orifice, means for limiting the pivotal motion of said chambers with respect to the cradle, a rotatable hollow member extending through the slotted frame members, means for rotating said hollow member with respect to said frame members, a nipple carried by the rotatable member adapted to engage the said orifice when the said chamber occupies a position wherein said orifice lies between and substantially in alignment with the said rotatable member and the pivotal axis of the chamber, the length of said nipple being such that upon continued turning of the rotatable member a compressive force is exerted to seal the connection between the nipple and the orifice, and means for locking the rotatable hollow member in sealing position.

7. A reversible double container vacuum pump comprising a base member having casters, a pair of vertically extending posts attached to said base member, a pair of receptacles attached to said posts for supporting drainage bottles, a hollow rotatable member extending transversely through said posts near their upper extremities, means for locking the rotatable member, a reversible cradle pivotally mounted on said rotatable member, a hollow vacuum chamber pivotally mounted at one end of said cradle, a second hollow vacuum chamber pivotally mounted at the other end of said cradle, said chambers being movable reversibly to upper and lower positions by a reversal of the position of the cradle on its pivot, stoppers for the vacuum chambers, a pair of tubes extending through each stopper, one of said tubes serving as a liquid tube and the other as a vent tube, means for connectin the liquid tubes of each stopper, an inner extension on said vent tubes abutting the inner surface of the hollow members and having an orifice riear its terminus, a

hollow suction nipple attached to the rotatable member, said nipple adapted to eifect alternate sealing connection with the lower terminus of each vent tube when the associated chamber occupies the said upper position, and a suction hose attached to said rotatable member whereby an airtight connection is formed between the vent tube, the nipple and the hose.

8. A reversible double container vacuum pump comprising a base member having casters, a pair of vertically extending posts attached to said base member, a cradle having a pair of slotted frame members reversibly supported by said posts, a hollow suction chamber pivoted at each end Of said cradle and adapted for alternate liquid flow to and from each chamber upon reversing the cradle, means for liquid connection between the chambers, means for venting the chambers, means for limiting the pivotal motion of said chambers with respect to the cradle, means for rotating the hollow member with respect to the frame members, a nipple carried by the rotatable member adapted to engage the chambers alternately upon reversal, means for locking the rotatable hollow member and a stop on the posts for the cradle.

9. A reversible double container vacuum pump comprising a base member having casters, a pair of vertically extending posts attached to said base member, a pair of receptacles attached to said posts for supporting drainage bottles, a hollow rotatable member extending transversely through said posts near their-upper extremities, means for locking the rotatable member, a. reversible cradle pivotally mounted on saidrotatable membet, a. hollow. vacuumichamber pivotally mountedat oneend of said cradle; asecondhollow chamber. pivotally mounted atthe other end' of said cradle, said chambers being movable reversibly toupper and lower positions by reversal of the position: of the cradle onits pivot, stoppers for the: vacuum chambers, a pair of tubes extending through each stopper, one of said tubes serving as a liquid tube and? the other as a: vent. tube, means for connecting the liquidtubes of each stopper, an inner extension on said vent tubesabutting; the inner surface of the hollow' members andh'aving an. orifice near its terminus, a hollow suction nipple attachedto the rotatable member, said,- nipple adapted to effect alternate sealing connection: with the lower terminus of eachvent tube when the associated chamber occupies the said upper position, a suctionhose attached to'saidrotatablemember whereby an airtight connection is formed between thevent tube, the nipple and the hose, and. a stopontheposts for preventing passage of the cradle-framemembers between posts.

1-0-. In a: vacuum device ofthe character described, a frame, a cradle structure journaled at its midsection in said: frame for rotary adjustments i-rra vertical plane to selectively elevateone end and simultaneously depress the other end' of the cradle, a container pivotally suspended from each end of. the cradle so as tomaintain a predeterminedgravity-induced. position irrespective ot the angular position of the cradle, a duct extending between and connecting. the lower ends-of said container-5,. asuction duct, and means arranged for coaction with the container in the elevated end of the cradle for connecting the suction duct with the upper end of said container.

11. A vacuum device as defined in claim wherein means is provided for limiting the extent of the angular movement of the cradle so that the containers are confined intheir movements to arcuate paths at oppositesides' respectively of a vertical plane through; the cradle journal.

12. A vacuum device as defined in claim 10 wherein the said. means for connecting the contamer to the suction. ductcomprises: a tube in the container extending firomthe upper end thereof to and througlrthe lower end, and-means- 13-. A- vacuumv device as defined. in claim 10:

wherein the said means for connecting. the-container'to the suction. ductcomprises a tube in the container. extending from theupper end thereot to and through the lower end, and a nipple radially disposed with respect to the axisof thecradle journal and adjustable in the frame about. saidaxis. as a pivot so as to bring its outer free end into. coupled engagementv with the lower projecting end of said tube, said nipple constituting, a terminal element of the suction duct exterior oi the container and being arranged for toggle action with the latter. afiording atigh'tjointv at said' coupling,

, 14. A vacuum device as defined in claim 10 wherein the said meansfor connecting the containerv to'the suction duct comprisesia tube in the. container extending from the upper end thereofto and through the lower end, a nipple radially disposed.- with respect to the axis of the cradle journal. and adjustable in the frame about said axis. as a pivot. so as to bring its outer free end into coupled engagementlwith the lower project.- ing end of said tube, said nipple constituting a terminal, element of the suction duct exterior of the container and being arranged for toggle ac tion with the latter affording. a tight joint atsaid' coupling,. and means afiording play betweenthc cradle and frame at the saidjournal' so't'hat when the nipple. and container are brought into' the coupled. relation, the: entire weight of the cradle and container assembly may be sustained by the nipple.

JAMES A. BETTS'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,075,711 Haeusler Oct. 14, 1913 1,374,808 Bethune. Apr. 12,1921 2,077,683 Fritz Apr.. 20-, 193-? 2,180,042 Ettinger Nov. 14, 1939 2,308,497 Dunham Jan..19,.1943 

